Are You Dating a Psychopath? Here's How to Spot One!

It would be a lot easier if all the crazies wore neon flashing signs. But the fact is, male "psychopaths are nearly impossible to detect," according to Sherrie Campbell, a psychologist and author of Loving Yourself: The Mastery of Being Your Own Person. They're successful, convincing, and charming—until they're suddenly downright crazy. So, how can you spot a psychopath before it's too late? Campbell offers up six signs to watch for throughout your relationship: 1. The Beginning: He immediately idolizes you. You're beautiful, intelligent, and unique — finally, someone is seeing you for who you really are! "This is how he hooks you.," Campbell says. "Once this phase ends he will abruptly shut the attention off." 2. Early Dating Stages: Like a chameleon, he'll change his interests, desires, and even fears to match your own. "This is a game of copy-cat," Campbell says, to make you believe you've found a soulmate. "He has no real identity of his own, and so he becomes you and mirrors you back to yourself." 3. First Few Months of Coupledom: Best sex of your life? Check! "He will initially go out of his way to please you," Campbell says. "Once you are hooked, sex

It would be a lot easier if all the crazies wore neon flashing signs. But the fact is, male "psychopaths are nearly impossible to detect," according to Sherrie Campbell, a psychologist and author of Loving Yourself: The Mastery of Being Your Own Person. They're successful, convincing, and charming—until they're suddenly downright crazy.

So, how can you spot a psychopath before it's too late? Campbell offers up six signs to watch for throughout your relationship:

1. The Beginning: He immediately idolizes you. You're beautiful, intelligent, and unique — finally, someone is seeing you for who you really are! "This is how he hooks you.," Campbell says. "Once this phase ends he will abruptly shut the attention off."

2. Early Dating Stages: Like a chameleon, he'll change his interests, desires, and even fears to match your own. "This is a game of copy-cat," Campbell says, to make you believe you've found a soulmate. "He has no real identity of his own, and so he becomes you and mirrors you back to yourself."

3. First Few Months of Coupledom: Best sex of your life? Check! "He will initially go out of his way to please you," Campbell says. "Once you are hooked, sex is also abruptly shut off and you'll find yourself feeling insecure, rejected, and doing what you can to get him to give it you again."

4. 6 or More Months In: He's losing interest by now, so say bye-bye to compliments and hello to the silent treatment. "He silences you over something small making you feel as if you are the worst, most flawed person in existence," says Campbell. "Then he will begin to disappear and stop showing up in your life, leaving you guessing and insecure."

5. 9 or More Months In: It's time for "the talk" — the one where he breaks up with you. "You no longer inspire him because he was able to capture and control you," Campbell explains. "Meanwhile, he has pulled you completely off your rhythm and you're left trying assemble the shards of yourself while he moves happily on to a new target."

6. After You Break Up: He'll hover in the background. If you move on or start dating someone else, he'll pop back up to try to win you back. "Like a vacuum, he wants to suck you back in," Campbell says. "He will promise you the world, go back to idealizing you only to get you in his clutches, and discard you again, starting the process all over."

The only way to really get rid of a psychopath? "Cut communication and contact completely," Campbell says. Un-friend him on Facebook, block him on Twitter — delete his number or assign his contact to "Do Not Answer."

What do you think about Campbell's theories? While I think the term psychopath is pretty extreme, I can definitely read through her steps and recognize at least a few things I've experienced in past dating relationships.

Based on Campbell's description, have you dated a psychopath or know anyone who has? What did you do to get away from and over him?